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PHILADELPHIA, PA — Lebron James has chosen Philadelphia. One of the greatest basketball players of all time will join the Sixers as the final major piece of what could be a history-making roster, he announced.
"This is my last decision," James said in an X post Friday announcing the move. "I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship. I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time."
The deal is for two years and $8 million, Lebron's agent Rich Paul told ESPN.
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The deal means that the 41-year-old will end his storied career in Philadelphia.
James will join former Boston Celtic Jaylen Brown in burgeoning an already highly competitive Sixers roster featuring former MVP Joel Embiid, star guard Tyrese Maxey, and young phenom VJ Edgecombe.
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James chose Philly out of a final trio that included Cleveland and Miami, two cities where he has previously played and won championships.
James is entering his 24th season in the NBA. He is a 22 time All Star, 21 time All NBA selection, four time MVP, four time NBA Finals MVP, and a 4 time NBA Finals champion. Universally acknowledged as one of the greatest of all time, if not the greatest.
Given that there is not really precedent for a player like James, that his peers are Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, and Tom Brady, there is also no precedent for an athlete of this level ever coming to Philadelphia. The closest analogues in the past 50 years are probably Bryce Harper in 2019 or Pete Rose in 1979, but neither are at Lebron's level. Wilt Chamberlain was an established great when he came to the Sixers in 1964 (and he started his career with the Philadelphia Warriors), but he didn't string off his three consecutive MVPs until after he had returned to Philly.
The Sixers had already shot up the 2026-27 power ranking charts following a surprising postseason run that saw them upset the second-seeded Celtics. They shot up further after the shocking Brown trade. Now, Lebron's addition places them alongside San Antonio, New York, and Oklahoma City as clear favorites to win the NBA Finals in 2027.
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